Six-run first paces Sox past Royals

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CHICAGO - They talked about getting off to a good start. About coming out and avoiding any sort of second-half letdown. About returning with confidence. About hitting the ground running, roaring out of the gate, etc. It seemed merely bluster - that is, until their words proved prophetic. Eight consecutive runners reached safely as the White Sox kicked off the second half with a six-run bottom of the first inning Friday night against Kansas City. The inning sparked the first-place Sox to a 9-5 victory at U.S. Cellular Field. “It was great,” Ozzie Guillen said of the first inning. “As a manager, you always worry about how those guys are going to come out after four days. To see them come out and swing the bat that way, you feel a little bit better. “In the back of your mind, you don't know how they're going to throw, going to hit, how they're going to play defense. Because four days is a lot of time off.” With the Sox trailing, 1-0, shortstop Orlando Cabrera and catcher A.J. Pierzynski singled to lead off the bottom of the first. Left fielder Carlos Quentin was hit with a pitch from Royals starter Zack Greinke. Right fielder Jermaine Dye singled home two runs. Designated hitter Jim Thome and first baseman Paul Konerko followed with RBI singles. Center fielder Nick Swisher singled to re-load the bases. Third baseman Joe Crede singled, scoring Thome. Amazingly, the Sox (55-40) saw only 16 pitches en route to their first five runs. “We just came out and attacked,” Dye said. “I think [Greinke] didn't know what hit him. I was surprised we came out like that after four days off, that we were able to see the ball like we did tonight.” Second baseman Alexei Ramirez drove home the inning's sixth run on a sacrifice fly. The outburst was more than enough run support for Mark Buehrle, who allowed four runs and four hits in seven solid innings. “The guys did it all in the first inning,” said Buehrle, who improved to 7-8. Buehrle felt for Greinke, as he's been on the opposite end of those starts. “Plenty of times,” Buehrle said. “At Wrigley [Field] a couple of years ago I gave up seven or eight runs. I had about 15 pitches ... seven runs and three outs.”